10 Tips from HR Pros on Making Your Resume Stand Out in 2018

Chances are any job you’re applying for is going to have multiple applicants – some are likely to have stacks of resumes submitted, with the hopes of just getting a chance to interview for the position. With such a great amount of competition out there, you have no option but to make yourself stand out from the pile of resumes surrounding the job opportunity you’re after. Here are 10 ways you can make your resume in 2018 stand out and get noticed:

Grab attention from the start in 2018

The reality is, you’ve only got a few seconds to grab the attention of the hiring manager and make a lasting impression. After that, they’re moving on to the next resume in the pile. Although your entire resume tells the story of your qualifications and experience, it’s the first two sentences that will likely determine if the rest of the resume is even noticed. And, with objective statements generally being generic and repetitive, many employers are just skipping them altogether. It’s for this reason that you should include a short, 1 or 2 sentence summary of your role right at the top of page, under your contact information. It’s set apart from the rest of the resume so it will get noticed and it’s an easy way for employers to glean some information about you and get interested in reading more.

Parrot the job posting

One of the easiest ways to make your resume 2018 stand out is to echo the language of the job posting you’re applying to. Using the same wording reinforces the notion that you’re qualified for the job and makes it sound as though you’re directly replying to the posting. If you’re applying online, applicant tracking systems will scan through to see how many keywords match up with the job description, so this is an effective way of getting past that first hurdle.

Get in the mind of the computer

Along the lines of using keywords to make your way through an applicant tracking system, you can also help push yourself through the process by thinking like a computer. Resumes received online are generally ranked according to the qualifications they meet – including buzzwords and other industry-specific keywords that may or may not be mentioned within the job description. Be sure to include powerful action words, such as managed, delivered and achieved, but be careful not to overdo the usage or it will look obvious and sound unnatural. Business Insider highlights some of the most effective ways of getting yourself noticed through your resume, and lists as their #1 method including industry keywords and buzzwords.

Keep things clean in your resume 2018

Although you do want to stand out from the rest, you want to do so in a positive way. Don’t clutter your resume or make it look too overwhelming. If at first glance a resume doesn’t seem easy enough to scan through, the hiring manager is unlikely to even try. He or she has got numerous resumes to read through and cannot be bothered with trying to navigate a confusing or cluttered resume. It’s always a good idea to try to keep things to one single, clean and uncluttered page.

Let them know what you can do for them

Put aside what you’re looking for personally – at least on your printed resume. Instead, highlight the things you’ve got to offer and your proven track record of achievements. Sure, you may be looking for a challenging position where you can continue expanding your skills – but your potential employer wants someone who will increase their sales while staying on budget. You’ve got to speak to what the employer is looking for and how you are able to help them achieve that. If you’re having trouble putting together a complete list of achievements, Top Canadian Writers can assist with their professional team of copywriters.

Don’t try too hard

Sure, you want to stand out from the rest, but so does everyone else. If you’re trying just as hard as everyone else to be unique, you will ironically land in the same pile as they’re all in. As previously stated, don’t make your resume about yourself – as counter-intuitive as that may seem. Trying to make yourself stand out using heavier cardstock or different fonts isn’t going to impress an employer. Once again, make your resume about the great assets your new employer will acquire and you’ll be able to truly stand out from the crowd in a unique way, without looking like you’re trying too hard.

It’s not what you did, it’s what you achieved

Just because you did something, doesn’t necessarily mean you did it well. Don’t write about the things you’ve only just completed, but instead write about your achievements and the things you excelled at. If you organized a fundraising marathon, you’ll want to mention more than the fact that you completed this task. Perhaps you’ll want to highlight that you increased attendance by 25% or raised $100,000 more than the year prior. You don’t want to just lists tasks you’ve completed – you want to give concrete evidence that you did those tasks well.

Don’t let mistakes get out there

One of the quickest ways to totally kill your credibility is to let your resume go out with spelling or grammatical errors. Proofread your work, then proofread it again. Don’t be in a rush to send your resume out. Take the time necessary to make sure everything in it is perfect before you hit ‘send’. And, if you’re not confident in proofreading, give it to a friend or send it to a professional proofreading service. As Write My Essay: The New Business Model Review outlines, many people are seeking out professional writing and editing services to assist with their resume writing.

Format things properly

Depending on what you’re applying for, you may want to change the way your resume is formatted in. A traditional chronological format may not work in all cases, since it lays out your experience from the most recent and back. But if you’re trying to make a career change, you may want to opt for a functional format, which highlights relevant experience, regardless of the order in which it happened.

Be sure you’re qualified

Although it may seem obvious, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of going after a certain job, regardless of the qualifications someone has. You’ve got to be sure your qualifications match what the employer is looking for or you’ll only end up disappointed.

When you’re just one resume in an endless stack, you want to make yourself noticed in the most positive way possible. Implement these 10 tips into your resume writing, and you’ll be sure to see the results.